Some explanatory remarks at the outset of
this section are necessary:
My command of either Azeri or Turkish is close to nil. The little I have
been able to grasp while preparing this page was enough to boost my
admiration for speakers of either language, while at the same time
moving my own prospects of ever being able to understand only the
crudest characteristics into a very far future indeed.
What you have in front of you is the result of a collaboration with a
native speaker of Turkish, Mr Engin Şirin,
to whom I'm greatly indebted. Although Turkish is very closely related
to Azeri some gaps have remained, as you will see. Therefore, I very
much welcome amendments to this first "draft" and should like
to encourage everyone fluent in this beautiful language to notify me of
additional material or mistranslations! Many thanks, and again a big
Thank You to Engin for your energy and
patience in making this come true. You are truly şirin...

There
is no such thing as coincidence:
one of the first words I came to understand was "aziz,"
meaning "precious," "mighty," "powerful,"
"glorious," and when used as a noun, simply
"saint"...

[1]
The River Araz (Arax, Araks, ancient Araxes) has its source south of
Erzurum, Turkey, flowing mostly east for more than 1000 km, mainly
through Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan, where itflows together withRiver
Kura before entering the Caspian See.

Hey, (if you) sing in the fashion of the nightingale you sing from the
land of rosesYou
should see your love (and) sing (=read) of it with the consciousness of
thelife-force companion (the beloved)With this beautiful
dialect (language) show the world your origin,Do not put jokes into conversation (but rather) sing a song
of heroes.

The songs of the fashion of the nightingale bring theMotherland to full consciousness,Sing a melody that the
whole of Azerbaijan can join in the singing of!

Dont say that love
is just a word, my mighty one
Without you I can no more get up on my feet (I
cant move forward anymore)
Have mercy on me, my beloved companion
You are the crown of my live, my love
Express your compassion for my love in your eyes

I have watched the streets for so long, that even they have become tired
Not even form the grief in my heart I could eat my fill
My yearning for you has dried out all my tears[I can no longer play the Oud of my love to the dance]